“Hill leaders have warned of potential unrest if government reforms on indigenous resettlement and district councils proceed as planned. The Chattogram Hill Tracts Citizens' Council demands restructuring to reflect population proportions and the appointment of a Bengali chairman to the Development Board.”

Rangamati, Aug 25 (V7N) - The student community will resist any attempts to establish the term "indigenous" under the guise of reforms in the Chattogram Hill Tracts. If any government officials exploit the current administration’s weaknesses to push for changes in the recognition of indigenous status, the restructuring of the three hill district councils, or the Chattogram Hill Tracts Development Board, it will lead to severe unrest in the hills. The leaders of the Chattogram Hill Tracts Citizens' Council have warned that any such actions will result in a highly volatile situation, for which the authorities will be held responsible.

During a press conference held on Sunday at a restaurant in Rangamati, the leaders voiced their demands for restructuring the three hill district councils to ensure that member appointments reflect the population distribution, and for the appointment of a Bengali chairman to the Chattogram Hill Tracts Development Board. The written statement was delivered by General Secretary Mohammad Solaiman.

The discontent was triggered by a visit from Supradip Chakma, an advisor to the Ministry of Chattogram Hill Tracts, who met only with Awami League leaders and excluded other political parties during his visit to Rangamati on Saturday. This prompted the organization of the press conference to express their grievances.

The statement emphasized that while district councils, upazila councils, municipal mayors, and union council chairmen across the country have been removed as part of the government's reform efforts, the three hill district councils remain unchanged. They called for the immediate dissolution and restructuring of these councils.

The statement also drew attention to the fact that more than half of the population in the Chattogram Hill Tracts consists of Bengalis. Despite sharing the same environment, Bengalis in the hills face severe discrimination in areas such as education, employment, business, land, and politics. This ongoing discrimination is viewed as a serious blemish on the state and a source of profound disillusionment for its citizens.

The statement expressed hope that the current interim government, which emerged from the movement against such discrimination, would take concrete steps to address these issues. It was noted that the government has already initiated moves to restructure the three hill district councils and appoint a chairman to the Chattogram Hill Tracts Development Board.

Under the special laws of the Chattogram Hill Tracts, the chairmanship positions of the three hill district councils are reserved for indigenous people, as are the chairmanship of the Chattogram Hill Tracts Regional Council and the advisor on Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs. The only remaining position is the chairman of the Chattogram Hill Tracts Development Board, where appointing a Bengali chairman would not violate any laws.

With five of the six key positions reserved for indigenous people, the Bengali population, which makes up half of the hill’s residents, is left without representation and faces significant political discrimination. The press conference demanded that the three hill district councils be restructured to reflect population proportions and that a Bengali be appointed as chairman of the Chattogram Hill Tracts Development Board.

The press conference was attended by Alamgir Kabir, Central General Secretary of the Chattogram Hill Tracts Citizens' Council; Shabbir Ahmed, Rangamati District President; Lokman Hossain, Khagrachari District President; and Anisuzzaman Dalim, Central Organizing Secretary.

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